Gatton couple pride of Australia

GATTON couple Derek and Chris Pingel have been awarded a Pride of Australia Medal for their efforts co-ordinating the Lockyer Valley Flood Relief Effort.

The couple received the Community Spirit Medal at a gala black-tie event in Sydney last night.

Following the devastating January floods the Pingels tooks on the huge task of collecting and distributing donations to flood-affected Lockyer Valley residents.

They were responsible for running 100 volunteers and five large storage facilities.

The Heroism Medal was also awarded to Emergency Management Queensland chopper crew Mark Kempton, Chris Turner and Darren Parsons for their efforts in plucking 28 stranded people from their rooftops during the unprecedented flooding of Grantham.